And Meagan turns 11...

So, in fine tradition (or what passes for it the last couple of years), we spent Meagan's Birthday with our friends, the Robinsons.  Now, I know we spend a lot of time with them, but it's just because they're such AWESOME people.  I know we need to spread ourselves out more...It's on my to-do list.  Of course, the people on the top of that list were ALSO there - Herman and Gabi Graham and their kids.  Also awesome people...  There was games, and play, and cake and ice cream and, of course, presents. 

Grandma and Grandpa Walles sent jewelry.  No, there was not an evil spirit in the jewelry possessing Meagan when she picked it up.  That's my lack of photo editing skills.  I do, however, have a beef with my daughter wearing jewelry.  She's not allowed to be that old.  Jewelry is for teenagers.  She's still got like 7 years before that, right?  No?  Oh my...I'm in trouble.

I'm not sure I see the appeal of this "line" of gifts, but she wanted a Monster High gift so we got her a couple of dolls that you can take apart and put back together like you were piecing together Frankenstein's Monster.  She seems excited.  I guess that's enough.  You know, it's HARD keeping up with all the new stuff.  I actually do a pretty good job, but I'm starting to get old.

Our friends gave her Legos, something she has been excited about lately.  She loves to build landscapes with them (she's not as into it as Jacob, but she's a girl...one must make allowances).

And then, the big one.  Since Meagan is a reader, and she was enamored with Grandma Walles' when they visited last year, we decided to get her a Kindle Paperwhite.  The books are, in-general, cheaper than buying paper and you can even borrow books from the library (that means Mommy has to get them to the Library and get cards - something we haven't done in 4 years).

Several days later, she still seems to like her stuff (particularly the Kindle - that was a good call on our part if I do say so myself).  She had to get new glasses because she broke her old ones so she can even see the books she is reading now...  And another year goes by.  Where is the time going?  Although, I have to say, as much as the time seems to be going by fast, I don't feel like it has totally slipped through our fingers.  When we were kids, our parents took us on long boring road trips to see things we didn't really care about, but we got to spend time as a family.  We don't spend every waking second doing stuff with our kids - I want them to be comfortable entertaining themselves - but we do spend time with them.  When we do, I try to let them pick what we do - within reason.  It may not be much, but it's time and they are excited when it comes time to have those moments.

- Josh

Christmas 2012

The holidays hit the Walles family kind of hard this year.  First Jacob got sick, then Sarah, then Josh, then Meagan, then Sarah again (over Christmas), then Meagan again (just after her Birthday).  Sarah & Josh have a sore throat that just won't quit.  Jacob is still coughing sporadically.  That didn't stop the excitement from unwrapping presents from bubbling over.

Meagan, our little reader, has been into Rick Riordan lately (of Percy Jackson fame) and has been begging us to get her the new book Mark of Athena for months.  Of course, we already had it, it was a Christmas present, so the answer was always, "No."  "But Whyyyyyy," she would whine.  And as every parent knows, the proper answer is: "Because I said so."  Jacob, on the other hand, is our little gamer.  His Christmas was filled with new games for his Nintendo 3DS that he got for his Birthday.

Another 3DS game for Jacob.  Apparently, he can tell what it is by the size of the present.  I'll have to work on that for next year.  Meagan, surprisingly enough, is still entranced by La-La-Loopsies as much as last year.  She got another one.  So now she has about 100.  Do they have 100?  No idea...

When we first got married, Sarah wanted a cat.  Because he was her new "baby" she felt it necessary to buy every kind of cat toy imaginable (I'm pretty sure I still own stock in PetSmart).  I, on the other hand, wanted nothing to do with the whole business.  I didn't have time, because I was still in college pulling 20 hour days every day.  As my brother-in-law Barry knows, you have to have fuel to sustain that.  Fuel comes in the form of Mountain Dew.  Back then, it was 24 can cubes which come in a square box with a removable cardboard tab so you can get the cans out.  In the midst of studying, I didn't want to break to take an empty box that wouldn't fit very well into our kitchen garbage out to the dumpster so I would leave it by the door.  What happened next was fascinating:  the cat ignored all the many toys we had spent money on for it and instead decided to play in the Mountain Dew box.  ALL.  THE.  TIME.

Now, you're probably wondering what that has to do with this Christmas.  Well, I tell you that story so I can talk about this one.  Apparently, after 70 years (it started in wide use in the military in 1942), Duct Tape has become a popular kids toy.  Now I know what all you dad's are thinking...  That's not what I mean (not that I haven't thought about it...).  Apparently, it is now cool to make Duct tape purses, Duct tape bracelets, Duct tape necklaces, Duct tape book sleeves, and all sorts of other items.  It comes in more than Grey, Black, and Bright Orange now too.  You can get Dalmatian print, Tie-dye, and all sorts of other...interesting...colors.  Meagan...plays with Duct tape.  The engineer in me is SO proud...even if it isn't grey.

Grandma Walles knitted for presents this year.  Meagan got a nice yellow sweater.  Jacob, on the other hand has become something of a budding artist (as long as that art has to do with video games).  But hey, Video Game Graphic Artists that are good make tons of money and get to work on some beautiful looking games - you never know...

 Meagan got a whiteboard and some markers for it, and Jacob got a new set of clothes.  The boy needs SO MANY CLOTHES.  He just looks at them wrong and they fall to shreds.  It's disgusting.

Yet ANOTHER La-La-Loopsie for Meagan - a "Special Edition" La-La-Loopsie.  'Cause she's Speshul!  And Jacob also got a sweater from Grandma Walles.  He's a blue fan, like his dad.

And that was the haul at Christmas.  We had some good laughs.  We got to spend time together as a family.  We got sick.  Multiple times.  Chalk this one up as a success.

- Josh